Government rolls out AI skilling programme with Google, YouTube; announces 15,000 scholarships

The Ministry of Information & Broadcasting (MIB), in collaboration with the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), has launched a national AI skilling initiative to strengthen India’s creative economy. Partnering with Google and YouTube, the program will provide 15,000 scholarships to equip India’s next generation of creators, storytellers, and digital professionals with advanced AI skills.The initiative is anchored by IICT under MIB’s broader vision to integrate artificial intelligence into mainstream creative education. It targets high-potential talent across media, entertainment, animation, gaming, and digital storytelling, offering a selective, impact-focused pathway to industry-ready skills.IICT, as the implementation partner, will oversee the national rollout. The curriculum, co-designed with Google and YouTube, blends AI tools, creative workflows, and platform best practices. Training will be delivered in two phases:* Phase I: Foundational Skills — Scholarships for Google Career Certificates and Google Cloud’s Gen AI learning paths, democratizing access to AI literacy and responsible practices.* Phase II: Specialization — Hands-on, project-based training in storytelling, advanced AI tools, and YouTube best practices, delivered through a hybrid model across India’s creative hubs.Information and Broadcasting, Shri Ashwini Vaishnaw, said, "The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, in partnership with Google and YouTube, is pleased to announce this national AI skilling initiative to train 15,000 participants from the creative and media sectors. This initiative is being implemented through the Indian Institute of Creative Technologies (IICT), and is aimed at strengthening AI capabilities in areas such as animation, visual effects, gaming, comics (AVGC) and media technology. It will support creators, media professionals, students and developers in building future-ready skills and contribute to India’s emergence as a global hub for digital content and innovation."Speaking about the partnership's impact on creators, Gunjan Soni, Managing Director - India, YouTube, said, "We believe AI can unlock incredible new opportunities for India's vibrant creative economy. By working together with the Ministry of Information & Broadcasting and IICT, we can provide creators and professionals with the skills they need to become fluent in the tools of tomorrow, use AI to tell richer stories, reach new audiences, and help shape the future of media. This program is a testament to our commitment to a 'Digital India' where technology empowers everyone."This initiative builds on last year’s “Create with AI” program by IICT and YouTube, reinforcing India’s positioning as a global hub for creative and digital innovation. By combining technical AI skills with platform expertise, the program aims to graduate a production-ready workforce capable of driving the next stage of storytelling and digital content creation.